Former UP Fighting Maroon Eduard Flores clocked in with a personal best in the 10km elite category of the Tokyo Speed Race.
TOKYO, Japan — In his first race abroad, Eduard Flores didn’t just cross borders—he outdid his own goals.
The proud son of General Santos City, South Cotabato, who competed in the 10km elite category, clocked in at 30:41 at the Tokyo Speed Race held at Meiji Jingu Gaien, beside the iconic Japan National Stadium, in Shinjuku on Saturday night.
Flores, whose previous personal best was 31:50, admitted he didn’t expect to set a new record for himself.
“Actually, unexpected ko eh kasi target ko lang talaga sub-32 or sub-31,” he revealed. “Pero ngayon, nag-sub-31 ako, kaya hindi ko akalain.”
“Overwhelming kasi nakakuha ako ng personal best,” he added.
On a cool race night, with temperatures hovering around 17°C, conditions in Shinjuku were ideal—cool enough for comfort, but not cold enough to stiffen the stride.
The marathoner, who previously competed in the UAAP representing the University of the Philippines, took his first kilometer in 2:57, settling into a strong four-minute pace over the next stretch.
He closed with a powerful final kilometer in 2:51.
“Malaking tulong 'yung weather dito sa Japan,” said Flores, who arrived Thursday and fit in a light 30-minute shakeout run around his hotel.
“Suot ko pala today 'yung METASPEED Sky—very smooth and responsive, napakagandang gamitin,” he added.
Flores wasn’t the only Filipino to set a personal best that evening.
Content creator Ayn Bernos also marked a milestone, finishing the 5km race for media, influencers, and ambassadors in 33:26, an improvement from her previous personal best 36:54.
Uganda’s Harbert Kibet won the men’s 5km elite, clocking in at 13:00, while Kenya’s Caroline Nyaga ruled the women’s 5km elite (14:19), the 10km titles were claimed by Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer (27:10) and Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek (30:22).